Bentley Castle
994 Words
‘How on earth did this happen? It’s absolutely awful.’ Countess Lucia followed after Elton who carried Emily in his arms.
‘Someone fetch the doctor! Heavens forbid Emily falls I’ll.’ Lucia threw her hands in the air.
Two maids bowed and scurried down the stairs. The Coachman was taken to the staffrooms downstairs with the footman.
Hail fell from the sky, rain drops like bullets planted against the windows. The wind threatened to carry the storm throughout the night, locking them in.
Elton carried Emily to his bedroom. His Mother followed behind them. A maid rushed in with clean sheets and blankets. Emily had pasted out when they arrived at the Castle.
‘My word! Elton you have to get out of those were clothes too or else you’ll catch your death!’ Countess cried.
Elton thought about Emily with her wet hair and drenched dress. The carriage had toppled over she likely had injuries he couldn’t see. Before he could speak his Mother was ushering him out of the room so they could change Emily.
‘How is she?’ Liam appeared in the study.
Elton sat with a glass of whiskey in his hands. He wore a white shirt and simple black pants. His hair coiled because of the moisture. He lifted his head to address his brother.
‘She’ll be alright. The doctor should be here any moment.’
Liam shut the door behind him and poured himself a drink.
‘He best hurry we wouldn’t want anything to happen to the Marquess' daughter.’ He lifted the glass to his lips.
‘I said she’ll be alright Liam.’ Elton grumbled.
‘Of course. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to her or your seat in the House of Lords.’
‘I don’t care about my seat.’ Elton finished the rest of the drink.
‘So you say. Still you managed to keep it a secret from me.’
‘Because I didn’t think of it as of any importance.’
‘You expect me to believe you’re not marrying the wild child for a prominent seat in the House of Lords?’
Elton ran a hand through his silk hair. ‘You make it seem like I have a choice.’
‘You always have a choice Elton. No one stopped you when you ran off and decided serve His Majesty the King in the Royal Navy.’
‘And left you here to squander half the family fortune.’
‘An honest mistake could have happened to anyone.’
Elton stood. ‘For the last time brother. I’m marrying Emily because it was our Father’s wish and I’m obligated to. If you must know I find the wild child as you call her rather interesting.’
Elton didn’t wait for his brother’s response. He marched out of the room and turned to his bedroom. Emily shifted in the bed. She’d been clothes in one of Lady Amelia’s evening gowns.
She stirred until her eyes popped wide open. Elton sighed and walked over to the bed. Emily attempted to sit up, her head span and she slid back under the covers.
‘How are you feeling?’ Elton asked.
‘Absolutely horrible.’ She looked up at him and he smiled.
‘You need some rest the doctor will be here any moment.’
‘How’s the coachman? He couldn’t move.’ Emily tried to get up again.
Elton brushed her hair back and offered her a smile. ‘He’ll be alright surely. You have to stay put. Mother will murder me if she thinks I’m aggravating you.’
Emily chuckled. ‘You’re not aggravating me. I’m not tired anymore.’
Elton's smile slowly vanished from his face. ‘Emily... do you remember what happened?’
‘I—I I’m not sure. Everything was going smoothly when we left Westminster. We must have used a bumpy road that’s when we crashed. I may have slipped unconscious when I woke up it was raining.’
‘Don’t worry. We’ll investigate as soon as we can.’
‘You don’t suspect foul play, do you?’
‘I—’
‘In here doctor! Quickly, quickly.’ Countess thrust the doors open, ahead of the doctor with round rimmed glasses and a faded medical bag in his hands.
Elton was shoved out of the bed by his Mother. ‘Please doctor give her everything you have. We have a ball to attend so soon! We can’t have her sister or worse.’
‘Oh Mother.’ Elton crossed his arms.
The doctor chuckled. ‘She looks fine. Strong young girl. Do you feel any pain my dear?’
Emily shook her head. ‘Thank Heavens!’
Elton spotted the butler, Mr. Avery at the door. He slipped away from the room and guided Mr. Avery away from the door.
‘Have you spoken to the Coachman?’
‘Yes Sir I have.’
‘Is he lucid?’
Mr. Avery nodded. ‘He’s positive he checked the wheels before starting off. So does the footman. He claims they drove smoothly until they neared the Castle and the wheels started to shake and eventually rolled off sending them into the bushes.’
‘Sounds like an accident. Thank you Mr. Avery.’
‘Oh no, Sir. The Coachman suspects not. He says he saw someone in the Carriage House before he left he didn’t recognize him as one of the carriage hands.’
‘Why would someone want to kill Emily?’
- Writer
